Rascals has branded The Phoenix Dark an "autumnal ale", though it was October by the time they canned it and I suspect it may be around a little while longer. No matter. I'm theorising it'll be fine for winter drinking.It's certainly dark enough, a deep shade of brown that's very nearly black, with the pillowy head of a stout. There's not much of an aroma, just a little roast and caramel. It's cold-fermented, according to the label, and I get schwarzbier vibes early on. The texture is rounded and quite creamy, which puts us back in ale territory. We're promised subtle smoke, but it's too subtle for me. Instead, schwarzbier's liquorice features next to treacle bread and dark chocolate, all very integrated into a single piece, in a very lagery way.
Never a subscriber to seasonal drinking at the best of times, I think this one would work well year round. It does draw well on the positive aspects of both dark lager and dark ale, though at only 5.3% ABV lacks any real warming effect. When you don't have time to drink both a porter and a schwarzbier it could be a real time-saver.
Looks lovely I too don’t believe in seasonal drinking stout and mild all year round.
ReplyDeleteOscar
This one might meet your requirements for a crypto-mild :)
DeleteTo be fair there are stronger milds than 5.3 percent.
DeleteWould you class my three favourite “Irish red ales” Sullivans red, Brehon Brewhouse red and Dundalk Bay Brewmaster red as crypto mild ales?
Oscar
I wouldn't -- I'm very much a descriptivist when it comes to beer: if the brewery says they're red ales then they're red ales and not mild. But I respect that you see it differently.
DeleteTo be fair mild ale is a very broad church of beer going from 2.8 percent up to 9 percent and from straw yellow in colour to black in colour what they share is less hoppiness and in the darker examples case little to no roast unlike a stout. So a reddy coloured malty sweet very little in the way hops beer is not out the question.
DeleteOsvar